Dallas Expands RIGHT Care to Youth Mental‑Health 911 Calls

Context Since 2018, Dallas’ Rapid Integrated Group Healthcare Team (RIGHT Care) has paired a paramedic, a social worker, and a police officer to stabilize adults in mental‑health crises. The city now pilots a version for minors, a six‑month effort launched with Parkland Health to reduce unnecessary arrests and hospitalizations among youth.

Key Facts - The pilot runs two dedicated teams that monitor 911 calls and can be summoned by dispatchers, on‑scene responders, police, or schools. - Teams operate daily from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., the hours when adolescent crises most often surface. - In the first six weeks, the teams responded to 63 calls, diverting 59 cases from jail and most from emergency departments. - Social worker Scott Creasy, who works at Parkland Hospital, describes the response: a police officer secures the scene, the paramedic checks for medical needs, and the clinician conducts a psychosocial assessment to link the child to community resources, same‑day behavioral‑health clinics, medication refills, or social supports such as housing and food. - Families receive education on crisis handling and navigation of mental‑health services, often their first point of contact with the system. - Program managers stress that immigration status does not affect eligibility; the focus remains on immediate safety and care.

What It Means The early data suggest the youth‑focused RIGHT Care model can keep children out of detention and reduce emergency‑room overload. By delivering a holistic assessment on scene, the teams address root causes—trauma, lack of resources, or untreated conditions—rather than defaulting to incarceration or hospitalization. For parents, the presence of a clinician softens the encounter, potentially lowering long‑term trauma associated with law‑enforcement‑only responses.

Looking Ahead The pilot will continue through the end of the year, with officials tracking diversion rates, repeat calls, and linkage to ongoing treatment. Outcomes will determine whether Dallas expands the model citywide and whether other jurisdictions adopt similar youth‑focused crisis teams.